The Catalan leader has issued a defiant response to Madrid’s decision to take direct control of Catalonia, calling for “democratic opposition” to the takeover. Madrid reacted to the Catalan parliament’s unilateral declaration of independence on Friday by firing the regional government and dismissing the head of the local police force. Beyond the sweeping assumption of powers, Madrid took wider aim at the project of Catalan statehood pursued by the regional government. Facebook Twitter Pinterest The Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, now faces the challenge of implementing Madrid’s rule on Catalonia. Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty ImagesRajoy has also dissolved the regional parliament and called elections for 21 December, with a 15-day campaign period laid out in the new orders.

Source: The Guardian October 28, 2017 10:38 UTC